Urban Growing
By Abi Sweet
As the Community Gardening Manager at Alive Activities, I couldn’t be more thrilled to share the exciting news of our upcoming venture: the opening of a second dementia-friendly community allotment in Bristol! Following the resounding success of our first plot in Brentry, we are extending our reach south of the river to Brislington with a brand-new site at Talbot Road Allotments in Brislington.
This spring, we’re gearing up to offer free weekly sessions, all year round, aimed at providing dementia-friendly gardening, green craft activities, socialising opportunities, signposting services, and peer support to those living with dementia in our community and their support networks.
Opening a second site is a dream come true! The response to our first site in North Bristol has been nothing short of phenomenal. It’s a testament to the incredible impact that therapeutic horticulture can have on the lives of older individuals and those living with dementia.
Our regular members have shared with us that their visits to our sessions are now the highlight of their week, and carers have expressed how heartwarming it is to witness their loved ones experiencing joy and fulfilment once again. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to extend these offerings to our community in South Bristol as well.
Our new plot at Talbot Road Allotments has been meticulously designed to be inclusive and accessible to all. Featuring wheelchair-friendly paths, raised beds, and an accessible toilet, we’ve created a safe, welcoming, and stimulating environment for older people, individuals living with dementia, and their carers.
The grand opening of our Talbot Road site is scheduled for Tuesday 26 March, and we’re honored to have BBC Radio Presenter, Joe Simms, joining us to formally inaugurate the space. Following the launch, we’ll be welcoming participants to sessions every Tuesday afternoon from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, starting from Tuesday 2 April 2024.
If you’re interested in learning more about our sessions or getting involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 07379 498 764 or via email at communitygardening@aliveactivities.org.
Alive has run gardening sessions for older people and those living with dementia for more than a decade. Operating community gardens across Bristol and running gardening sessions in care homes across the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire area, their work has been praised by BBC Gardener’s World, and, most recently, the Royal Horticultural Society as runners-up of the prestigious Growing Together 2023 Award. More information can be found on the Alive Activities website.
Alive Activities is one of the UK’s leading practitioners of meaningful activity for older people. Working within care homes and the wider community, the charity runs a variety of services and innovative projects such as Dementia Meeting Centres and Community Gardening opportunities to bring activities, support and intergenerational connections to older people, those living with dementia, and their carers. To find out more, head to www.aliveactivities.org or contact info@aliveactivities.org or 0117 377 4756.
So, what change do you want to see happen that will transform food in Bristol by 2030? Do you already have an idea for how Bristol can make this happen? Join the conversation now.
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